Cash-strapped LAUSD Awards Staff Massive Pay Raises as Students Struggle

District faces leadership crisis, criminal investigations, and academic underperformance

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic school supply item repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the complex issues facing the Los Angeles Unified School District.As LAUSD struggles with leadership scandals and academic challenges, its decision to award staff massive pay raises raises questions about the district's priorities and ability to serve its students.Los Angeles Today

The cash-strapped Los Angeles Unified School District has tentatively agreed to hand its staff generous pay raises, including a 24% increase for essential workers, to avoid a teachers strike. This comes even as the troubled district's students are scoring lower than the rest of the state and its leadership faces investigations from federal and local authorities.

Why it matters

The new labor deals, which will cost the district about $550 million per year, will increase financial pressure on LAUSD, which was already projecting a $1.6 billion deficit by 2027-28. Critics argue the raises are unwarranted given the district's academic underperformance and leadership issues, including a federal probe into former superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

The details

The deals with the district's three major unions - United Teachers Los Angeles, Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, and Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union - include pay raises ranging from 12% to 24% over two years, as well as increased health benefits. This comes as LAUSD students lag slightly behind the rest of the state in reading and math exams, and post slightly worse graduation rates.

  • On April 11, 2026, LAUSD reached a deal with United Teachers Los Angeles, giving teachers a 14% raise over two years.
  • On April 11, 2026, LAUSD also reached a deal with the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, including a 12% pay increase over two years.
  • In the early hours of April 12, 2026, LAUSD reached a deal with Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union, granting a 24% raise and more health benefits to essential workers.

The players

Andrés E. Chait

The acting LAUSD superintendent who announced the labor deals, filling in for Alberto Carvalho while he faces a federal probe.

Alberto Carvalho

The former LAUSD superintendent whose home and office were raided by federal agents in February 2026, leading to his suspension.

Sonja Shaw

The newly announced GOP pick for California State Superintendent, who criticized the LAUSD raises as coming "without accountability."

David Tokofsky

A former LAUSD school board member who said the new labor deals will cost the district about $550 million per year but won't improve the quality of work.

Hong 'Grace' Peng

A former LAUSD technical project manager charged last month for allegedly running a $22 million kickback scheme with a Texas tech contractor.

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What they’re saying

“We are proud to have reached resolution with all of our labor partners. We are grateful for the collaboration that made this possible.”

— Andrés E. Chait, Acting LAUSD Superintendent

“Yes, good educators and staff deserve fair wages. But this latest round of major pay raises comes at a time when fraud, waste, national scandals, and academic failure continue to plague that district, while more than half of our students still can't read or write at grade level.”

— Sonja Shaw, Newly announced GOP pick for California State Superintendent

What’s next

The new labor deals still need to be ratified by union members and the LAUSD Board of Education, but the tentative agreements will keep schools open in the meantime.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex challenges facing LAUSD, as it struggles to balance staff compensation, address academic underperformance, and root out leadership issues and alleged corruption, all while navigating a looming budget deficit. The district's decisions will have major implications for students, teachers, and taxpayers.